Process of combustion.



'H. L-. DOHERTY. {PROCESS OF COMBUSTION. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. Ian.

Patented uly '6, 1915.

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. 5] kwe when M I 298 his afl'o' z'nug Henry Lnoher t f H. L. DOHERTY. PROCESS OF comsusflorv. APPLICATION FILED IAN. l1, II'QH- 1,145,358. Patented July 6, 1915. a susnssuzzr 2.

$1M i lis atto zmm HENRY I. DOHERTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF COMBUSTION.

Application filed January 17, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY L. Dom nry, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New Yorlrand state of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Combustion, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of combustion.

The object of .my invention is to provide a method whereby the pressures in the combustion flues of a coke oven, or similar apparatus, may be maintained equal to or slightly in excess of the pressures prevailing at the corresponding levels in the carbonizing chamber,

whereby leakage of gas from the carbonizing chamber to the combustion flues. is prevented. Briefly, my invention comprises establishing a substantially continuous combustion throughout the heating fines of a coke oven, ,or similar apparatus, by introducing the gas and air, alternately under pressure in a number of separate portions, at opposite ends of the alternate heat-' ing flues, through suitable nozzles or ports, the quantities of the respective portions of gas and air and the pressure at which they are discharged (and consequently the velocity) being regulated to so control the temperature and pressure in each flue of the series, in conjunction with the main draft producing action, that the pressures ,prevailing in the several heating flues will not fall below the pressures at the correspond ing levels of the oven or heating chamber. The velocity at which each current is introduced should be that which is necessary to overcome the retardation which it experiences from friction with the flue walls and the chimney action of the fiues, themselves.

y the operation of my process, it is practicable to maintain the pressures in the heating flues at the levels desired, without undue interference with the main draft-producing action exerted upon the heating flues. WVhere dependence is placed wholly upon ordinary forced draft, or upon chimney draft, for the draft producing effect, it is practically impossible to regulate the pressure in any individual flue, without affecting the pressures in all the other flues, or to maintain even approximately uniform pres- This is due to sures throughout the fiues.

upon the ourthe retarding action exerted rent of gases by friction and the chimney.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ture on the line E,

Patented July 6, 1915. Serial N 0. 603,092.

action of the flues themselves. As this effect is cumulative, it is necessary by the customary methods of producing draft, to increase the inducing efi'ect on the last flue or the forcing effect on the first flue by the total amount of the retardation of the Whole series of flues. This necessarily results in the establishment of a pressure appreciably below atmospheric pressure in the lastflue, in the former case, or a pressure appreciably above atmospheric pressure in the first flue, in the latter case. By my method of producing the draft and regulating pressure each flue is largely under individual control and regulation.

In the. accompanying drawin s, I have shown a form of coke oven suitable for applying my invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the oven structure A A A", A, A of Fig. 2, the section through the air recuperator being on the line a, a", a a, a", a" of Fig. 5. The line of demarcation between the two sections being the line b, I), Z) of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the oven on the line U, C, C, C C", O" of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of one half of the oven on the line D, D, D", D of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the air recu erator end of the strucl, E, E". Fig. 5 is a snnilar cross-section on the line F, F of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section on the line G, G of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a diegrammatic plan of the apparatus.

The end of the setting containing the gas producer I will for convenience ofdescription designate the front of the setting. Figs. 2 and 3 are therefore sections through the left and right-hand sides of the setting respectively. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections looking forward from the back of the setting and are therefore of the right and lefthand sides of the setting respectively. It is to be noted that the section line A, A",

partly on the line A, A, A",

A", A A", A, A, is traced by the same planes as a, a", a down to the level A -A of Fig. 2.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, are the heating fines of the left hand side of the oven. They are a; (a, a of Fig. 5

formed by the horizontal partitions 8, 9, i

.bed of the producer.

that the openings 15, 16, etc., occur at opposite ends of adjacent flues. The several flues 1, 2, 3, etc., thus form, in eflect, a single return-bend flue. The gas to be burned, ascends through a' flue 21 in the outer wall of the oven, shown in dotted line. The air for supporting the combustion is supplied through the flue 22, likewise in the outer side-wall of the oven. Both the air and gas are supplied under a slight pressure, say, 5 to 15 oz. per sq. in. Both the air and gas are highly heated in recuperators by the hot products of combustion discharging from the heating flues of the oven.

23 designates the air recuperator of one half of the oven, while 24 designates the gas recuperator.

The combustion gases from the heating flue 7 are divided into three streams. One stream passes through the flue 25, under the induction action of the injector 26, through the nozzle 27 of which air is supplied under pressure. This stream of combustion gases flows through the flue 28, in admixture with the air from 27 and through nostrils 29 into the ash-pit of the gas producer, from whence the draft current of mixed air and combustion gases passes through the fuel From the producer, the gas formed passes throughthe nostrils 30 around the combustion gas flues 31 and 31', through the flue 32, shown in dotted lines, and thence to the flue 21. A second stream of combustion gases flows through the passage 33, through the flues 31, the connecting passage 34, the flues 31 and passage 35 to one of thesets of intermediate flues (36 as shown) of the air recuperator 23. Here it joins the third stream of combustion gases which flows through the passage 37 and the flues 36", 36", 36, the combined second and third streams flowing from the flues 36 and 36 and from the flues 36 through the passage 37 into the main smoke flue 38. i The air is forced into the flue 39 of the air recuperator through the connec tion 40 from the discharge pipe 40 of the blower 41. It passes up through the passages 42 to'the air flue 43, around the flues 36 and thence through the flue 53 shown in dotted lines, to the air flue 22, also shown dotted. From 22, the air flows through the passages 44 to the several air twyers 45, 45", 45 Dampers, 46, on the passages 44 and dampers 46 on passages 44, serve to regulate the distribution of the air between the difl'erent twyers.

The gas discharges from the flue 21 through the passages 47 to the several gas twyers 48, sages 47, serve to regulate the distribution of the gas between the several twyers. Both the gas and air dampers are accessible for adjustment throng-{ the hand-holes 50 and 51, respectively. he pressure on the proside- 48, 48*". Dampers 49, on pas-.

ducer gas is secured by means of the positive blower 52 and the injector 26. a

The apparatus may be brought up to normal operating condition as follows :-A layer of sifted ashes or broken clinker having preferably been laid on the grate to protect it, kindling is charged thereon and ignited and coal or coke (or whatever fuel is to be utilized in the generator) charged.-

The combustion maybe supported by air drawn in by the natural draft of the setting through the ash door of the furnace, or air may be introduced under pressure from blower 52 through the air pipes 27. At this stage the hot combustion gases are passing freely through the flues and passages of the setting. to the stack flue 38, all air inlets other than the pipes 27 being closed. When the fuel on the grate has become thoroughly ignited more fuel is gradually charged thereon, until the usual depth carried in gas producers of this type has been introduced. Asthe depth of fuel increases, the character of the gas changes, the product of the combustion of the carbon becoming chiefly CO. Up to this stage the gas has been passing to the heating fiues 1 and 1" through the respective nozzles 48 and 48'. Through the hand-holes 51 air is admitted to the flues 2 and 2' and at the same time a torch is inserted to ignite the gas. The

theirvrespective hand-holes 51 and a torch at the same time inserted to ignite the gas. These operations are repeated with the lower flues. \Vhen the as is quietly burning in the combustion flues, the blower 41 is started and the dampers 46 and 46 on the left and right-hand sides of the setting, respectively, opened to the proper extent. The hand-holes are now closed and the combustion is supported by the air introduced from the nozzles.

The apparatus having been brought up to opemtive condition in the manner described, or in any other manner well known to those skilledin the art, air is discharging through the nozzle 27 into the injector-passage 26, from whence it passes through the flue 28 and nostrils 29 into the ash-pit and thence up through the fuel bed of the producer, as already described. The producer gas passes to they twyers 48 and discharges from these into the fiues 1, 3, 5. Inthe combustion flues it is burned by the air entering through the air'twyers 45', 45 45", of the two sides of the setting.

The main object of my invention is the prevention of the pressures in the several combustion fiues from falling below the normal gas pressure at the corresponding levels in the coking chamber. When chimney acthat of the atmosphere, flues.

on account of friction lower than on the tion is depended upon to establish the draft through the heating flues there must, of necessity, be a pressure considerably below existing in the lower This is due to retardation experienced by the current of combustion gases with the flue walls, etc., which necessitates a considerable chimney suction to overcome 1t. ThlS chimney action is exerted to a greater extent on the higher flues. As the walls 54 and 54 dividing the heating flues from the coking chamber are made as thin as practicable, in order to permit of the ready transfer of heat to the charge in the chamber, there is always moreor less leakage of gas from the carbonizing chamber into the heating flues, when any great excess of pressure is permitted to exist 1n the carbonizing chamber over that existing in the heating flues. By my invention I prevent this leakage by maintaining the pressure in the heating flues equal to or greater than the pressure prevailing in the carbonizing chamber. Any leakage which then takes place will be from the combustion or heating flues into the carbonizingchamber. To secure this end, I supplement the chimney action exerted upon the flues by introducing the air and gas into the flues .under pressure. Then by varying the chimney action exerted upon the flues by'operating the damper 55, the pressure at which the air is introduced by valves 57 and dampers 44 and 44, and the pressure at which the gas is introduced by the valves 58 and dampers 49 of the two sides of the settingI adjust the pressure conditions in the fines so that while the pressures therein will. be at least equal to the pressures in the earbonizing chamber 59, the proper velocity of flow of the gases through the flues is maintained. The pressures prevailing in the carbonizing chamber and in the several flues may, of course, be readily ascertained by the use of ordinary U gages or any other style' of gages preferred. Since these are common in the art, are always used in connection With apparatus of the kind herein described, and the manner of their installation is well within the knowledge ofthe ordinary workman, I have not complicated the drawings by introducing them.

y my in'vention, the air or gas, as the case may be, is introduced into each flue at a velocity such that the current of gases in that flue receives an acceleration, approximately equal to the retardation which it experiences from friction with the flue walls, change of direction in passing from flue to flue, etc. By this device, there is no partial vacuum permitted to exist in the flues such as occurs when chimney action is,

relied upon to produce the draft. Indeed, I usually so regulate the pressures prevailand air currents are ing in the several .flues that they shall be, if anything, slightly higher than the pressures in the corresponding levels in the oven. It is possible also to so regulate the pressures in the respective twyers by varying the pressures maintained on the air and gas flues, and by manipulating the dampers 49 and 46, that the pressures in the flues may be maintained at substantially the pressures existing at the corresponding level in the coking chamber.

The velocities at which the several gas entered depends, of course, upon the pressures existing at the twyers. This is regulated, primarily, by the pressures maintained in the respective flues Q1 and 22, and, secondarily, by the adjustment of the dampers 49 and 46. By means of the injector 26 and blowers 41 and 52, the gas and air are supplied to the rcspective distributing flues, 21 and 22, under a pressure of from 5 to 15 oz. The exact pressure maintained in any given case depends upon the size, number and lengths of the heating flues or, in other words, upon the retardation experienced by the gases in passing through the flues.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. ljhe process of conducting combustion in serially arranged combustion flues of a heating chamber, which comprises, injecting into the entrance end of alternate flues a current of gas and at the entrance end of the intermediate flues a current of air, under conditions that will establish combustion, the said gas and air currents being introduced into the respective flues with a velocity sufficient to impart to the current of combustion gases flowing through the respective flues an acceleration superior to the retarding action exerted upon said gases in said flues, and throttling the flow of gases at the discharge end of the said combustion flues, relative to the volume of combustion gases passing through said flues, to maintain at the discharge end of said flues a pressure substantially equal to that existing in said heating chamber.

2. The process of conducting combustion in serially arranged combustion flues of a heating chamber, which comprises, in'ecting into the first of sai series of flues at a velocity suflicicnt to overcome the retarding effect exerted upon the forward flow of gas in said flue, injecting into the entrance end of the second flue of the series, under conditions to insure combustion, a current of air at a velocity suflicient to impart to the resulting combustion gases a velocity sufficient to overcome the retarding efl'ect exerted upon the said gases in said flue, and similarly injecting, a ternately, gas and air into the entrance end of the remaining flues of the series, the

forward flow of i said gas and the said air being in each case introduced into the respective flues at a velocity sufficient to impart to the stream of combustion gases flowing through each flue a velocity sufficient to overcome the retarding effect exerted upon the forward flow of said stream of combustion gases in that flue, and throttling the flow of gases at the discharge end of the said combustion flues, relative to the volume of combustion gases passing through said flues, to maintain uponthe discharge end of the last of said flues a pressure substantially equal to that existing at the corresponding level in the said heating chamber, whereby the pressure in all of said flues is prevented from falling below that in the said heating chamber.

3. The process of maintaining combustion under controlled pressure in the heating flues of a coke oven, which comprises introducing gas and air alternately under pressure, at opposite ends of alternate heating flues, the quantity of the respective'portions of gas and air and the velocity at which they are introduced being so regulated in conjunction with draft roducing action extraneous to the flues, t at the pressures prevailing in the said fiueswill be maintained slightly above res- ' of alternate heating flues, the quantity of the respective portions of gas and air and the velocity at which they are introduced being so regulated in conjunction with said draft producing action extraneous to the flues, that the pressures prevailing in 'the several heating flues-will be maintained equal to or the corresponding pressures revailing in the said coke oven.

5. The processof main taining combustion under controlled pressure in the heating flues of a coke oven, which comprises applying draft producing action to one or the other of the end flues of the series of heating flues, to establish in that flue the pressure conditions desired, while maintaining the required velocity of the heating gases therein, and supplementing said draft producing action by introducing gas and air alternately, under pressure, at opposite ends of alternate heating flues, the quantity of the respective portions of gas and air, and the velocity at which they are introduced being so regulated, in' conjunction with said draft producing action extraneous to the flues. that an acceleration will be imparted to the heating gases in the respective flues sufiicient to overcome the retarding action exerted upon said gases in said flues, whereby the pressures prevailing in the several flues are maintained equal to or slightly above the corresponding pressures prevailing in the said coke oven.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 16th day of Jan. A. D. 1911.

HENRY L. DOHERTY. 

